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ARS Home » Plains Area » Sidney, Montana » Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory » Pest Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #104705
Title: BIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF MELANAGROMYZA OBTUSA (MALLOCH) (DIPTERA: AGROMYZIDAE)

Author
item Shanower, Thomas
item LAL, S - IIPR
item BHAGWAT, V - ICRISAT

Submitted to: Crop Protection
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: A key pest of pigeonpea is the pod fly. This pest lays its egg in the pigeonpea pod and the developing larva feeds on the immature seeds inside the pod. Two species attack pigeonpea in Asia and Africa, and yield losses in some areas can be quite high. The pod fly attacks only pigeonpea and related species. Progress has been made identifying and selecting less susceptible pigeonpea cultivars. Work in-progress is focusing on combining podfly resistance with high yield and disease resistance. A number of natural enemies are also known to attack the pod fly in Asia, but their impact on podfly populations is unknown. Little research has been conducted on the natural enemies of the African pod fly.

Technical Abstract: Melanagromyza obtuse (Malloch) (Dipetera:Agromyzidae), the pigeonpea pod fly, is a key pest of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] throughout south and south-east Asia. Females deposit eggs in the green pods of pigeonpea and other host plans, and the developing larva feeds on and destroys the unripe seed. Substantial yield losses have been attributed to othis pest in several countries. Pest management strategies for the pigeonpea pod fly have emphasized chemical control and host-plant resistance. This paper reviews the literature on the distribution, host plants, biology, natural enemies and control strategies for this pest. Priorities for future research are also suggested.